Old hand Thorpe keeps his cool

GRAHAM Thorpe utilised his experience of the sub-continent's unique challenges to reassure England both on and off the pitch during an eventful third day of the inaugural Test against Test minnows Bangladesh.

GRAHAM Thorpe utilised his experience of the sub-continent's unique challenges to reassure England both on and off the pitch during an eventful third day of the inaugural Test against Test minnows Bangladesh.

Having enjoyed great success during previous tours to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India, the 34-year-old left-hander is something of an expert inside the tourists' dressing room when it comes to cricket matters in this part of the world and his advice is regularly sought by the younger members of the tour squad.

That knowledge will have been invaluable over the course of the day, which not only resulted in England recording the lowest all-out total by a touring team in a Bangladesh Test but also featured a controversial climax to the day following a floodlight failure.

But, far from becoming concerned by a day which went nothing like England would have liked, Thorpe was a reassuring picture of composure as the tourists regrouped and attempted to force home an important victory.

The Surrey batsman had already demonstrated his expertise with a determined 64 in difficult conditions which could not prevent England slumping to 295 all out and thus eclipsing the 296 registered by West Indies at Chittagong last year.

But perhaps his biggest gift to England's younger squad members was his laidback attitude to the floodlight failure which caused the premature halt to the day's play shortly after Bangladesh had lost a wicket and slumped to 12 for one having already conceded a 92-run first-innings deficit.

While Bangladesh's batsmen took the offer of the light, England registered their disappointment at having their momentum halted by staying as a team out in the middle - an action which could have been interpreted as a protest.

Thorpe and the other senior players, though, will have taken the opportunity to remind their younger contemporaries that this is just a normal day on the sub-continent.

"We stayed out in the middle because we thought they would be back on pretty quickly but they didn't so we had a little chat about how the day had gone and we'll come back tomorrow with our heads up," explained Thorpe.

While Thorpe may have explained the power failure, which also affected the lights inside the dressing room, England's failure to build on a promising position may not be as easily understood.

Resuming on 111 without loss trailing Bangladesh by only 92 runs, the tourists would have expected to progress towards a commanding first-innings lead and take control of the first Test meeting between the two countries.

Despite facing opponents who have yet to taste victory after 25 Tests and have lost all but one of them, England struggled against inexperienced spinners Mohammad Rafique and 16-year-old debutant Enamul Haque.

Rafique began a slump of three wickets for three runs in 18 balls by bowling Michael Vaughan when he mistimed a sweep for 48.

Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain departed for ducks and, although Marcus Trescothick successfully progressed to his fifth Test century, his untimely departure when he was caught sweeping also set back England's cause.

Rikki Clarke and Gareth Batty kept Thorpe company during his innings lasting nearly four hours, but conditions made scoring difficult and England's last seven wickets fell for 120 in 40 overs.